Author: Michelle Warner

Peace Over Panic in a Pandemic


“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Mic drop. I was reading yesterday in our Lent study (which has taken us through the book of John and cataloged Jesus’ life on earth), and I got to this verse and stopped. 

Jesus shared these words with His disciples just a few chapters before He was nailed to the cross. He was preparing His disciples for a difficult time and knew they needed to experience peace.

The amazing thing about Jesus’ words is they transcend thousands of years and are still timely for us today. Peace. Jesus says He gives peace. And then follows that up with saying we do not need to be troubled or afraid. I think we all could soak in this encouragement during this season of quarantine.

Sometimes experiencing peace feels a lot harder to do than other times. And right now I’ve struggled to find peace in the midst of so much apprehension going on in the world. I find myself scrolling my newsfeed or checking my news app and then my mind shifts into panic mode. 

I admit I have felt stressed when I have left the bubble of my house. Yesterday we ventured to Costco. I haven’t made a trip out to a store in a while and I could feel my anxiety level rise anticipating the trip. My mind began conjuring up theories of how we could possibly contract the virus just so we could get a package of TP. 

Truthfully, being at the store didn’t produce peace. People wearing masks and gloves reminded me times are different right now. My sensitive heart could hardly handle the stress on everyone’s faces.

When I got back in the car after that trip I told the Lord that I needed Him to give me some peace because I couldn’t be so on edge like this for the next several months. I intellectually knew I didn’t need to panic, but it felt like that was how everyone was reacting, so maybe I should follow the trend. (Not exactly healthy, I know…)

And that is when the verse I read a few days earlier popped back in my head. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

I realized after my panicked errand yesterday that I need to be filling my mind and heart with truth to combat the fears that are rising within me. Like for instance, when I got home, I wrote the encouraging words of John 14 on my chalkboard in the kitchen to remind myself daily. 

How about instead of feasting my mind on news and newsfeeds, I turn my eyes to what God says?

It is not lost on me that Jesus said He doesn’t give peace like the world gives. If we’re watching the news or scrolling our newsfeeds, we are told we will find peace when we are done sheltering in place or when a vaccine is made for COVID-19. 

But can we find peace in the midst of a pandemic? Or a quarantine? Or the unknown? 

Jesus says YES. He tells us to not let our hearts be troubled. Now, that doesn’t mean we never have concern. Or we don’t take appropriate precautions or educate ourselves. But I believe Jesus’ words are encouraging us to not live in fear. To not let the fear consume us. To keep a steady diet of truth.

For me to not let my heart be troubled, I’m going to try to fill myself up with what God says about peace. I have begun searching my Bible for encouraging verses that bring me peace. I wanted to share them with you too. When my fear kicks up in the days ahead, these are the words I am going to return to. What about you? What else would you add to this list?

Holding onto peace together,

Michelle 

 

  • “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3

 

  • “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

  • “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

 

  • “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

 

  • “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs on your head are numbered. So, don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29

 

  • Also a song I have been playing over and over: Peace Be Still by The Belonging Co.

 

 

God Is Our Safe Place to Hide

­

Last week my husband and I were out of the country for a work event when the President declared the travel ban. You could feel the tension and panic spike to a new level for all of the people needing to get home to their families. All I could think about was reuniting with my girls and making sure we were all together during this world crisis.

My husband and I thankfully had a flight already scheduled for the next day so we could get home for a family wedding. Our flight took off on time but not long after we got to 10,000 feet, the pilot told us we were headed into rough air. The next hour and a half we bounced up and down as if our airplane was a car on a bumpy road. 

At first I took it in stride, albeit a little nervous. But then after a while, the fear started to rattle me. Loud noises from the wind and people’s reactions as we hit the bumps only exacerbated the worry. Before I knew it, I was entertaining worst-case scenarios in my mind. I was replaying the last moments I had with my girls and wondering if those would be my last. I was legitimately scaring myself. 

I tried some deep breathing but that didn’t settle me. I prayed and asked God to give me some peace. It was then I knew reading something from the Bible was what I needed. I reached in my backpack and pulled it out. I had a verse rolling around in my head but couldn’t remember the exact wording and knew I needed to lock my brain in on some truth.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” Psalm 46:1-3 

I literally repeated that first line over and over in my head throughout the rest of the flight. God is our refuge. Our strength. He is a *very present help* in trouble. 

I also looked up the Message version – “God is a safe place to hide. Ready to help when we need Him.” I needed a safe place to hide.

I closed my eyes and pictured myself hiding under wings as big as eagles. Totally protected. Totally safe.

It reminded me of another of my favorite verses and one that comforted me during another scary time a couple of years ago:

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” Psalm 91:4

Even when things feel out of control, God is reminding me that in Him, I can find my safe place. 

Thankfully all was well with the flight and we finally got back onto solid ground and home to our girls. But as I’ve thought about that situation since, I feel like God was preparing me for these overwhelming times ahead.

I admit, this coronavirus has frightened me a bit. All of the what-ifs have been popping into my head about this virus. I have felt overwhelmed by everything that has changed so quickly. And watching the news and scrolling my newsfeed have brought up more panic than peace. 

In these unsure moments when life feels out of control, I have been reminded where I must put my thoughts, emotions, and plans: Firmly in God’s hands. No one saw this pandemic coming but amazingly, God is not surprised. He is already there. And He has been there in so many other scary moments and will be there in the future ones too.

So mamas, what about if we together hold onto the truth right now that “God is a safe place to hide. Ready to help when we need him”?  Whether that’s in keeping your cool when you’re home with your kids 24/7, navigating homeschooling, or trying not to worry about the unknowns, God is there and ready to be of help. May we rest in that truth in the coming days.

~Michelle